Clothing
- Light, breathable clothes in cotton or linen
- Swimwear — for the beach and the hotel pool only
- Modest outfits for Stone Town and villages: loose trousers or long skirts, and tops that cover your shoulders. A light scarf or sarong is very useful
- A light jumper or long sleeves for breezy evenings and air-conditioned rooms
- A light rain jacket from March to May and in November
- Sandals or flip-flops, plus comfortable walking shoes for Stone Town
- Water shoes — the reef and seaweed at low tide can be sharp, and sea urchins live in the shallows
Why modest clothing? Zanzibar is a largely Muslim society. See culture and dress code.
Sun and sea
- High-factor, reef-safe sunscreen and SPF lip balm
- Sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
- A rash vest for long snorkelling trips
- Your own mask and snorkel, if you like a good fit (equipment is provided on most trips)
- A dry bag for boat trips
- Insect repellent for the evenings
Health
- Antimalarial tablets if your doctor recommends them — malaria is present on the coast
- Personal medicines, a small first-aid kit and rehydration salts
- Hand sanitiser
Documents and money
- Passport and Tanzania visa grant notice
- Zanzibar mandatory insurance certificate — see Zanzibar travel insurance
- Your own travel insurance details
- Cards, plus clean US dollar notes printed after 2009 and some Tanzanian shillings for markets and tips
Gadgets
- Universal adapter (Tanzania uses type D and G sockets, 230 V)
- Power bank and a waterproof phone pouch
Coming from a safari?
If you fly from the Serengeti, your luggage is limited — usually around 15 kg in a soft bag. Plan one wardrobe that works for both: neutral safari clothes, plus a few light beach things. Our safari packing list covers the safari part.
Leave at home
- Plastic carrier bags — banned in Zanzibar
- Revealing clothing for town
- A drone, unless you have arranged permits
